Over 250 diocesan priests from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, south India, gathered for their Jubilee Year Conference, themed “Let Us Celebrate the Priesthood,” at the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health and a shrine at Vailankanni.
The January 28 to 30, 2025 program commenced with a heartfelt welcome by Fr. Ambrose, the regional president, setting a tone of warmth and unity.
Fr. Crispin Boniface, the state secretary of the vocation commission, provided an insightful introduction to the Catholic Diocesan Priests of India (CDPI), emphasizing the organization's mission and the significance of their collective vocation.
Bishop Lawrence Pius of Dharmapuri Diocese delivered a keynote address, delving into the essence of the diocesan priesthood.
He inspired the clergy to remain steadfast in their calling, navigating the complexities of modern challenges with faith and resilience.
The conference featured a series of engaging talks focusing on the holistic well-being of priests:
Spiritual Nourishment: Fr. Irudayaraj, Rector of Vailankanni Shrine, emphasized the importance of deepening one's spiritual life to sustain and enrich pastoral ministry.
Physical and Mental Wellness: Fr. Francis Xavier Nelson addressed the crucial aspects of maintaining health, highlighting the interconnectedness of body, mind, and spirit in effective ministry.
Embracing Technology: Fr. Jackson Louis introduced an intriguing session on artificial intelligence, exploring its potential role in pastoral ministry and encouraging priests to engage with technological advancements thoughtfully.
The sacred highlight of the gathering was the grand Eucharistic celebration, led by Fr. Arputharaj, parish priest of the shrine, alongside Fr. Angel Raj of the Madurai Diocese and numerous concelebrated priests.
The atmosphere was filled with prayer, thanksgiving, and a profound sense of unity as the priests rededicated their lives to the service of God and His people.
A particularly touching moment was the Silver Jubilee celebration honoring priests who had completed 25 years of dedicated service.
These priests received commemorative gifts as tokens of gratitude during a special Mass in recognition of their unwavering commitment.
Fr. George Santhanaraj led the celebrations, with Fr. Gilbert Joe and the Jubilarians joining in a Thanksgiving Mass.
Fr. Bhakiya Regis of Chengalpattu Diocese extended heartfelt wishes, while a representative of the Silver Jubilee priests delivered an emotional speech, reflecting on the joys and challenges of their priestly journey.
The following individuals' dedicated efforts made this extraordinary Jubilee celebration possible:
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Fr. Ambrose (Regional President)
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Fr. Joseph Sagayaraj (Vice President)
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Fr. Irudayaraj (Rector of Vailankanni Shrine)
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Fr. Arputharaj (Parish Priest of Vailankanni Shrine): As the sun set over Vailankanni, the priests departed with hearts full of gratitude and spirits uplifted, carrying forward the light of their sacred mission into the world.
This gathering was not just an event but a spiritual milestone, reaffirming the bond of priesthood and the call to serve with renewed zeal and joy.
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